Does auto insurance cover flat tires?
If you're wondering, "does insurance cover flat tires," the answer is maybe. Certain auto insurance policies cover flat tires, but it depends on how you got the flat tire. If it's a result of a car accident or vandalism and you carry full coverage, car insurance should cover the cost.
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Zach Fagiano
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Zach Fagiano has been in the insurance industry for over 10 years, specializing in property and casualty and risk management consulting. He started out specializing in small businesses and moved up to large commercial real estate risks. During that time, he acquired property & casualty, life & health, and surplus lines brokers licenses. He’s now the Senior Vice President overseeing globa...
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UPDATED: Oct 20, 2024
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Editorial Guidelines: We are a free online resource for anyone interested in learning more about auto insurance. Our goal is to be an objective, third-party resource for everything auto insurance related. We update our site regularly, and all content is reviewed by auto insurance experts.
UPDATED: Oct 20, 2024
It’s all about you. We want to help you make the right coverage choices.
Advertiser Disclosure: We strive to help you make confident auto insurance decisions. Comparison shopping should be easy. We are not affiliated with any one auto insurance provider and cannot guarantee quotes from any single provider. Our partnerships don’t influence our content. Our opinions are our own. To compare quotes from many different companies please enter your ZIP code on this page to use the free quote tool. The more quotes you compare, the more chances to save.
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If you’ve ever had a flat tire, you know how frustrating that can be. Whether you got a flat by running over something sharp, or you simply walked outside to your car and noticed the flat tire, it’s always a hassle to get it fixed.
You may be wondering, Does insurance cover flat tires? The answer to that question depends on what happened to flatten your tire and what type of car insurance coverage you carry. For example, carrying the minimum car insurance required in your state will not assist you with a flat tire. You’ll be on your own for damage to your car if you’re at fault, and you’d have to pursue coverage through the other party’s insurance company if they were at fault.
As you search online for the best full coverage car insurance options, remember to compare quotes from multiple companies at once to get the best price for coverage.
- A flat tire may be covered by your auto insurance, depending on the type of coverage you carry
- The reason behind your flat tire will matter when seeking compensation from your insurance company. It’s generally not covered as a stand alone claim.
- You will typically need to pay your deductible before your car insurance policy will cover any tire repairs
You can use our free quote tool above to compare full coverage rates from multiple companies in your area today.
Does auto insurance cover flat tires?
If you are wondering, “Does insurance cover a nail in a tire”, the answer is no. Driving over a sharp object and getting a flat tire is typically not something that car insurance policies will cover.
But if your auto insurance covers roadside assistance, or if you have roadside assistance as a separate coverage, your roadside assistance plan will likely help to replace and cover the cost of the tire so you won’t have to.
So, while standard Geico insurance does not cover flat tires, a roadside assistance plan with Geico would certainly help to compensate you for the cost of the tire and any necessary towing or labor. Typically, it’s only a few dollars per renewal period.
In other instances, such as a car accident or vandalism, your car insurance policy may cover your flat tire. This depends on the type of coverage you have with your policy.
For instance, if you got a flat tire after a car accident, you would need collision coverage to pay for your tire repairs. Liability-only and comprehensive coverage will not help with a flat tire, in this instance.
Similarly, you would need comprehensive coverage to pay for a flat tire if it was due to vandalism or something of that nature. Collision coverage, in this case, would not help pay for tire repairs.
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Is a flat tire covered under warranty?
While insurance will not pay for tire repairs or replacements due to standard wear and tear, you can obtain a warranty on your tires that lasts either a certain number of months or a certain amount of miles.
If your tires are under warranty and you get a flat tire, your warranty will pay for the tire repairs.
If the tire cannot be fixed, the company will prorate the remaining mileage toward the purchase of a new tire. So even with a warranty, there’s still a chance you’ll be paying something out of pocket for a flat tire.
How many tires does insurance cover if they’re slashed?
If your tires have been damaged by vandalism, such as having been slashed or punctured, your comprehensive or full coverage will cover all of your tires once you meet your deductible.
With liability-only coverage, or liability and collision, your slashed tires would not be covered by your insurance. Instead, you would have to pay out of pocket to replace them.
Full coverage on your vehicle will cost more than simple liability coverage, but it will offer protection for covered events. Keep in mind, policies do not cover routine wear and tear.
The table below shows the difference in annual rates between liability and full coverage in all 50 U.S. states.
Auto Insurance Monthly Rates by State & Coverage Level
| State | Minimum Coverage | Full Coverage |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $33 | $72 |
| Alaska | $45 | $86 |
| Arizona | $42 | $81 |
| Arkansas | $33 | $76 |
| California | $41 | $82 |
| Colorado | $43 | $82 |
| Connecticut | $54 | $96 |
| Delaware | $67 | $103 |
| Florida | $71 | $105 |
| Georgia | $46 | $87 |
| Hawaii | $38 | $73 |
| Idaho | $29 | $57 |
| Illinois | $37 | $74 |
| Indiana | $32 | $63 |
| Iowa | $25 | $59 |
| Kansas | $30 | $72 |
| Kentucky | $44 | $78 |
| Louisiana | $65 | $117 |
| Maine | $28 | $59 |
| Maryland | $51 | $93 |
| Massachusetts | $51 | $94 |
| Michigan | $66 | $114 |
| Minnesota | $38 | $73 |
| Mississippi | $38 | $83 |
| Missouri | $35 | $73 |
| Montana | $32 | $72 |
| Nebraska | $30 | $69 |
| Nevada | $57 | $92 |
| New Hampshire | $33 | $68 |
| New Jersey | $72 | $115 |
| New Mexico | $41 | $78 |
| New York | $67 | $113 |
| North Carolina | $30 | $66 |
| North Dakota | $25 | $64 |
| Ohio | $33 | $66 |
| Oklahoma | $38 | $84 |
| Oregon | $49 | $75 |
| Pennsylvania | $42 | $81 |
| Rhode Island | $63 | $109 |
| South Carolina | $44 | $81 |
| South Dakota | $25 | $64 |
| Tennessee | $34 | $73 |
| Texas | $44 | $92 |
| Utah | $41 | $73 |
| Vermont | $29 | $64 |
| Virginia | $35 | $70 |
| Washington | $50 | $81 |
| Washington, D.C. | $52 | $111 |
| West Virginia | $41 | $85 |
| Wisconsin | $31 | $61 |
| Wyoming | $27 | $71 |
| U.S. Average | $45 | $84 |
As you can see, full coverage can increase your annual rates by several hundred dollars, if not more. But it could save you thousands in the event of a large claim. If you are uncertain whether or not you can afford full coverage, you can shop around online to compare quotes from multiple companies and determine how much you might end up paying.
What should I do if I get a flat tire?
If you notice that your car has a flat before you start driving, do not drive your vehicle. If your car is in a level location, you can replace the tire with a spare. Or you can call for roadside assistance.
If you are driving and you suddenly get a flat tire, pull over as soon as possible. Turn on your emergency flashers and get out of any traffic. Once it’s safe to do so, you can exit your car and inspect the damage.
With only one tire, it’s reasonable to assume that you could replace your tire with a spare and drive carefully to a repair shop to have everything inspected. However, if you have more than one flat tire, it’s best to contact roadside assistance and get towed to a repair shop.
Regardless, you should not ever drive on a flat tire. It can seriously damage your vehicle and put you and other drivers in a lot of danger. Make sure that you get your flat tire repaired as soon as possible, and only drive on your spare when absolutely necessary.
If you aren’t certain whether or not your car insurance will cover a flat tire, you may want to shop around for additional coverage options. You can compare quotes from several companies online to discover what might work best for you.
And be sure to use our free quote tool below to find and compare car insurance rates that fit your budget today.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Does auto insurance cover flat tires?
Auto insurance may cover flat tires, but it depends on the circumstances. If the flat tire is a result of a car accident or vandalism, and you have full coverage, your car insurance should cover the cost.
Does insurance cover a nail in a tire?
No, driving over a sharp object and getting a flat tire is typically not covered by car insurance policies. However, if you have roadside assistance as part of your policy or as a separate coverage, it may help cover the cost of the tire replacement.
Is a flat tire covered under warranty?
Insurance does not cover tire repairs or replacements due to standard wear and tear. However, if your tires are under warranty and you experience a flat tire, the warranty may cover the repair or prorate the remaining mileage towards the purchase of a new tire.
How many tires does insurance cover if they’re slashed?
If your tires are damaged by vandalism such as slashing or puncturing, your comprehensive or full coverage insurance will cover the replacement of all the tires once you meet your deductible. Liability-only coverage will not cover slashed tires.
What should I do if I get a flat tire?
If you notice a flat tire before driving, do not drive the vehicle. Replace the tire with a spare or call for roadside assistance. If you get a flat tire while driving, pull over safely, turn on your emergency flashers, and inspect the damage. Replace the tire with a spare if you have one, or contact roadside assistance if necessary.
Free Auto Insurance Comparison
Enter your ZIP code below to view companies that have cheap auto insurance rates.
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Zach Fagiano
Licensed Insurance Broker
Zach Fagiano has been in the insurance industry for over 10 years, specializing in property and casualty and risk management consulting. He started out specializing in small businesses and moved up to large commercial real estate risks. During that time, he acquired property & casualty, life & health, and surplus lines brokers licenses. He’s now the Senior Vice President overseeing globa...
Licensed Insurance Broker
Editorial Guidelines: We are a free online resource for anyone interested in learning more about auto insurance. Our goal is to be an objective, third-party resource for everything auto insurance related. We update our site regularly, and all content is reviewed by auto insurance experts.